A Port St. Lucie family of seven is recovering following an evening fire that might have been sparked when a family pet knocked over a candle in a bedroom. The cause has been deemed accidental and no one was injured in the fire. However, fire officials are reminding residents to use caution when lighting candles in their homes.
Lt. Wayne Boyer of the St. Lucie County Fire District cited the National Fire Protection Association’s statistics that reported some 16 percent of accidental fires nationwide are caused by candles. Of those, a third originate in bedrooms.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Lt. Boyer said. But people need to be aware of the risks of using candles and do what they can to mitigate those risks.
Candles that can be tipped easily should not be where children or pets can reach, Boyer recommended.
Would-be candle lighters could use alternatives such as flameless, battery-powered candles that provide the ambiance without the risk.
If candles are a must, Boyer suggests placing them in the path of exit – from the room or the house. That way, he said, when you pass by, you’ll remember to extinguish them.
Trim the wick before use so the flame doesn’t get too big. And, make sure to clear away excess wax, which could become a burn hazard.
But the No. 1 rule for candles, according to Lt. Boyer, is to never leave a candle unattended – not even for a moment. It’s in that moment that the candle could tip – the container could break from heat – or a child or pet could touch it.
Candles should also never be placed on or near something that could catch fire.
Candle users have “got to use common sense,” Lt. Boyer said.
While candle-origin house fires remain a relatively rare occurrence, the National Fire Protection Association recorded 8,700 such fires last year, according to Boyer.
For the family of seven on SW Idaho Lane, damage was primarily focused in the bedroom where the candle had been burning. Still, the house sustained approximately 20 percent damage, according to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, due to smoke damage throughout.
The American Red Cross arrived on scene and provided assistance to the family. Everyone in the home was able to safely evacuate.
The Fire District also took the incident to remind residents to make sure they have evacuation plans for their family and that they practice them.
Also, residents should have at least one working fire extinguisher, and test and replace smoke detector batteries regularly. Detectors should be tested monthly and batteries replaced twice a year.